Everybody Loves Puffins!

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic is its brightly colored beak during the breeding seasons. It is the only puffin species which is found in the Atlantic Ocean. The curious appearance of the bird, with its colorful huge bill and its striking black-and-white plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as “clown of the ocean” and “sea parrot”.

The Atlantic Puffin is 11-13.5″ in length, with a 20-24″ wingspan. The male is generally slightly larger than the female, but they similar in appearance. Mainly black above and white below, with gray to white cheeks it has red-orange legs and a large, triangular bill, which during the breeding season is bright orange with a patch of blue bordered by yellow at the rear. The characteristic bright orange bill plates grow before the breeding season and are shed after breeding. The bills are used in courtship rituals, such as the pair tapping their bills together.

The Atlantic Puffin is typically silent at sea, except for soft purring sounds it sometimes makes in flight. At the breeding colonies the birds make a deep growl.This species breeds on the coasts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and eastern North America, from well within the Arctic Circle to Maine. The winter months are spent at sea far from land – in Europe as far south as the Mediterranean, and in North America to North Carolina.

We have added a new Maine cruise to see this wonderful creature and many other seabirds. We will also explore many coastal forests, islands, bays and open ocean in search of moose, bears, whales and so much more. This will be a birding trip and photographic experience suitable for all ages and abilities!

Trip dates: May 30 – June 6, 2010
For more info go to: http://www.wildsidetoursinc.com/itineraries/maine-puffins.html